LAND BOARD ELECTION.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 11, 28 May 1920, Page 8

LAND BOARD ELECTION.

The contest for the vacant seat on the Land Board is being keenly contested, and has aroused more interest in this j election tlian those held previously. The Executive of the Invercargill R.S.A. considered the question of the method of voting, and sent a remit to Confe-rence suggesting that the signed envelope would be a greater factor in ensuring the secrecy of the fcallot than the present method signing the voting paper. In fact, the whole systenr* wants reorganising, and Conference should devote a good deal of time to this important question. TheTe is one thing that Crown settlers should do in exercising their vote, and that is to mark the envelope "Voting Paper." Failure to do this will mean that the voting paper will be opened as ordinary correspondence. and thus disclose the voting. We are confident that the Land Boaxd staff are doing the right thing with these papexs, but it should not happen, and every voter should receive a printed envelope specially marked. So far as public opinion can be relied upon, it would seern that Colonel Hargest cannot fail to be placed at the t-op of the poll. In fact, he is the most representative candidate seeking election. The duties of the Land Board are of such a nature that no candidate must l-epresent only one section of the voter s, and as the functions of the Land Board deal with soldier settlement and Crown tenants whose land is not affected by the operation of the Discharged Soldier' s Settlement Act, it is imperative in the interests of effieiency and impartial judgment that the candidate represent both sect-ions. This Colonel Hargest does, having controlled the working of a Crown holding practically all his life. In addition to this he is a soldier who has played his part well, and has a distinguished war service. His service oii the Land Purchase Board will stand him in good stead, and on the . whole every confidence can be placed on him to act in the interests of every ciass of the community, and not confine his activities to one particular section, whether they be returned soldiers or otherwise. The object oi the R.S.A. in supporting Colonel Harge.-t's candidature is not one governed by personal motives. I t has always been a matter of policy with the Association to secure representation on a Board which deals with its affairs. As matters stand at present the soldiers have no representative, notwithstanding the fact that the hui!: oi' the work that the Board has to deal with is "soldier settlement." This is decidedly unfair, and to adjust this position Colonel Hargest is the official nominee of a united Southland.